Black Americans who experience racial discrimination in midlife show higher levels of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers later in life, according to a new study. This finding provides evidence that chronic stress from racism may contribute to the disproportionate risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Black Americans.
The research, conducted over 17 years, analyzed blood samples and interviews from 255 Black participants. By 2019, when participants averaged 57 years old, those who reported more discriminatory experiences in their 40s and 50s had significantly higher levels of phosphorylated tau181 and neurofilament light chain, both indicators of neurodegeneration.
“This study is an important look into the potential cumulative impacts of racialized stress on health for minoritized individuals,” said Dr. Nathaniel Harnett of McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Michelle Mielke of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, a study co-author, emphasized that while Black Americans have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, the factors contributing to this disparity are not fully understood.
Dr. Negar Fani of Emory University, not involved in the study, called the findings “compelling evidence” of racism’s impact on health disparities. She advocated for screening for racism experiences in medical settings to identify at-risk individuals.
Researchers hope these results will drive policy changes, increase funding for studying racism’s health effects, and lead to interventions aimed at reducing racial disparities in dementia risk.
See “Racial Discrimination in Midlife Linked to Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease” (April 12, 2024)
